Machine for compressing material into form.



No. 734,531. I BATENTBD JULY 2s, 1903.. H. J. FLOOD.

MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING MATERIAL INTO FORM.

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No. 734,531. PATBNTBD JULY 2s, 1903,.. H. J. FLOOD.

MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING MATERIAL INTO FORM.

APPLIOATION HLD AUG. o, 1901.

N0 MODEL. 4 4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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r PATBNTED JULY 2a, 1903.v H. J. FLOOD. MACHINE PoR coMPRBssING MATERIALINT0 FORM.

APPLICATION FVILED AUG. 9|`1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No Monm..

Karr ZZoocZ 23%# 'PATENTEL JULY 28, 1903. H. J. FLOOD. MACHINE FORGOMPRESSING MATERIAL INTO FORM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9. 1901.

mmonm.. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4..

UNITED f STATES ratented Jftny 2s, ieo.

PATENT. OFFICE.

HARRY J. FLOOD, oF OHIOAGO, HiiNoi'sl.

MACHINE FOR OoIvIPRI-:ssINe MATERIAL INTO FORNI.

SPEIFICATIN' forming part of Letters Patent N ou 734,531', dated July28, 1903.

' Application filed August 9, 1901. Serial No. -71.434. (No model.)

To all whom t may oon/cern,.-

Beit known that I, HARRY J. FLOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State Of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Im` provement in Machines for CompressingMaterial into Form, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for compressing material into form, andis especially applicable to brick-machines ofthe type wellknown astoggle-machines.

Attention is hereby directed to a separate application for patent on thetype of mold herein shown, said application having been filed on the28th day of August, 1902, Serial No. 121,269.

The objects of my invention are, first, toprovide means for facilitatingthe positioning of the lower plungers upon the lower cross-head; second,to avoid the danger of the clay or other material gaining access to thatportion of the surface of the lower crosshead which forms a seat for thelower plungers and supports thereof, and, third, to provide the otherdetails hereinafter set forth. I attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a planview of the mold-table. Fig. 2V is a vertical sectional view taken onthe line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing the mold-table, lower portions of themachineframe,the lower cross-head, and connected parts. The lowerplungers and supporting top plate are shown seated upon the lowercross-head. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parts illustrated in Fig.2, the lower plungers and top plate being shown in a raised positionabove the lower cross-head. Fig. 4 is a sectional view Of the mold-tablein a vertical direction on the line 4: 4, Fig. 1, and showing theposition of the partition-plates. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view ofthe mold-table, taken on the line 5 5, Fig-1. Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional view of the mold-table, taken on the line 6 Fig. 1, andindicating also the arrangement of the lower plungers and cross-head.Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the mold-table, taken on the line 7 7,Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail -view of lower cross-head and connectedparts. Figs.

9 and 10 are top and transverse vertical sec;

,' tional views, respectively, of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 isa top viewin detail of the spring-washer employed in connection with theplunger-stems. Fig. 12 is 'an enlarged side view ofa springwasher.- Fig.13 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the machine, taken throughthe molds. Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view showing the devices foradjusting the depth of mold.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.`

The parts a a, represent the lower portion of the main framework ofthemachine,where on the Inold-table is supported. Said moldtable comprisesthe front piece or cross-block b and back piece orcross-'block c, whichare provided vwith the recesses b' b and o o, respectively, forreceiving the extremities of the end blocks old.y Said front and backpieces b and o of the m01dtable,which are of `massive construction toaord great rigidity and strength, extend across the machine and thecap-screws a a'. The side frames a are apertured to loosely receive saidcap-screws to permit adjustment yof the parts of the mold-table. The`front apron e and back apronV f arebolted to the front and back parts,respectively,'of the mold-table. The

drawn firmly tO a bearing upon the said end blocks in a direction fromfront torear of 'the' machine by means of 'heavy bolts g g, whichitloosely in said front and back pieces and also by preference passthrough said end receive said bolts. In the transverse direction saidend blocks are forced inwardly toward the centerof the machine-by meansof the set-screws??l h. Said front and back pieces or cross-blocks b ando of the moldtablev are 'suitably drilledrand tapped at the recesses band c for receiving said setscrews, while the side frames areaperturedin such a manner as to "receive said setscrews loosely. v screws forces'saidend blocks irmly onto the mold-lining plates, as will hereinafterappear.

The molds tare formed by the .end liners j and side liners'lc, whichconsist, preferably,

blocks, which latter are suitably recessed to substantially symmetricalin form and are are bolted to the side frames a tt by means of front andback pieces ofthe Inold-table are The tightening of s aid set- IOI) ofsteel platcs having polished inner faces, said plates extending fromfront to rear between the parts b and c of the mold-table. Theextremities of the partition-plates m and side liners 7a and also theback or rear sides of the end liners j are mortised to tit into thecorrespondingly-chambered front and back parts b and c of themold-table. It is evident that when the bolts gare screwed tight theside liners and partition-plates are prevented from moving in thedirection from front to rear. The motion of the side liners andpartition-plates in a transverse direction is prevented b v the endblocks d, held by the set-screws t, the end liners j serving asdistance-pieces to spread said side liners and preserve the proper widthof mold. The pressure of the side liners k against the end liners jholds the latter rmly in position. It follows, therefore, that thestrain upon the mold-plates due to the tendency of the clay or othermaterial to expand laterally under compression is taken up in atransverse direction by the parts b and c of the mold-table, which areof ample proportions and at the same time simple in construction.Moreover, the pressure uponthe ends of the molds is also taken up bysaid parts b and c, which being drawn together by the bolts g aresubjected to a transverse or breaking strain. Consequently themold-table is not only selfcontained, but consists of but four principalpiecesto wit, the end blocks CZ d and parts b and c.

In operation when it is desired to alter the size of the mold or renewworn parts the screws h and bolts g are loosened sufficiently to permitthe end blocksand parts b and c of the mold-table to be backed off, sothat the mortised end and sideliners may be removed. The size of themolds will be determined by the thickness of said lining-plates.

The lower plungers n, which are designed to reciprocate vertically inthe molds z', consist of castings provided upon their top surfaces withthe face-plates o. Said plungers are secured by means of tap-boltsto thetop plate 1J, which extends across the machine beneath the molds t'.During compression said top plate p seats upon the lower cross-head,which is a built-up member composed ofthe side plates q q, secured,preferably, by riveting to the end blocks r Ir. The cross-head is boltedto the side bars's s, which are moved verticallybyanysuitable mechanism.After a brick has been formed in the mold it is de livered onto thefront apron in the manner well understood in the art, and it isdesirable that thelowerplungersshallremain flush with springs in themanner now to be described. The plunger-stems tt are attached to the topplate p by means of the bolts u and to the cross-bar 'U by means of thebolts w.

In order to afford an even upper surface to the top plate p, said plateis recessed to receive the heads of said bolts u. The crossbar /u isadapted to slide vertically in the ways x, provided in the auxiliaryframe fy beneath the main framework of the machine. The upward travel ofsaid bar is limited by the contact of the bolts l, mounted in said bar,with the stops 2, formed in said frame y, and the parts are soproportioned fthat said bolts will engage said stops when the lowerplunger face-plates are Hush with the top of the molds. The lever 3 hasa bearing upon said bar n and is pivotally connected at its forwardextremity to the lower extremity of the vertical adjustingrod 4. As bestillustrated in Fig. 14, the vertical adjustment of said rod 4 isdetermined by means of the sleeve 5, which is threaded to engage saidrod and has a bearing in the gear-casing 6. Said casing is supportedfrom the part ZJ of the mold-table. The sleeve 5 has formed at its upperportion the bevel gear-wheel 7, which meshes with the bevel gear-wheel8, mounted upon the horizontal shaft 9. Said shaft,which has a bearingin the bracket b2, pivotally supports said gear-casing and is rotated bymeans of the hand-wheel l0, and the arrangement is such that therotation of said shaft results in the verticalmovement of said rod 4,and consequently determines the position ot' the forward extremity ofthe lever 3.

In this construction the top plate p, stems t, and lower plungers n areindependent of the lower cross-head and are raised therefrom by thesprings ll, which in the present construction encircle said stems t andact against the washers 12 beneath the said top plate p. The lowerextremities of said springs seat upon the spring-Washers 13. Saidwashers 13 are removably mounted in the lower crosshead by means of thepins 14, the Shanks whereof are inserted in apertures 15in the sideplates q in such a manner that the heads 16 of said bolts projectinwardly and tit into the sockets 17in said washers. This openconstruction of the lower cross-head prevents accumulation of dust,which lnay accidentally get beneath the top plate p, for the reason thatany dust so entering would drop downward through said cross-head andwould not be retained thereby. The springs impart a tendency for the topplate p to rise from the cross-head; but it is necessary that the lowerplungers shall move downward at the proper time to afford sufficientdepth of mold. This lowering of the lower plungers consequent upon thedownward movement of the lower cross-head q is accomplished by means ofthe forked rod 18, which is pivotally attached to said lower cross-headand engages the pin 19, mounted upon the lever 3. Said rod and pinvirtually form a movable pivot IOO or bearing for said lever 3, and itis evident vthat in operation when said pin and forked rod are inengagement a raising or lowering of the adjusting-rod 4 will have areverse effect upon the top plate and lower plungers relatively to thelower cross-head.

In order to prevent the access of clay or 'other material to thecontact-surfaces between the top plate p and side plates q, guards 20,consisting, preferably7 of sheet metal, are attached to said top plate,as shown in Figs; 2 and 3. This considerably simplifies and improvesupon the constructions heretofore employed, for when the lower plungersare permitted to rise individually from thecrosshead it is difficult toprotect the seating-surfaces from dust, and an accumulation of dust willcreate a tendency to wrest the plungers from the plunger-stems.

One of the important features of the prescnt invention lies in themounting of the lower plungers upon a common top plate, since by thismeans the plungersv may be mounted without the necessity of consideringthe plungerstems-that is to say, the plungers may be shifted 'upon thetop plate regardless of the positions of the stems. By employing thisconstruction inv connection with themold-table above described it ispossible to alter the number of molds in a machine and still maintainsymmetrical disposiltion and spacing of the molds.

By substituting plungers of the required size and correspondinglyaltering the molds brick of any desired dimensions may be made.

It is obvious that as the top plate p is secured to each one of theplunger-stemstone or two of the bolts u may become loosened withoutpermitting the springs-11 to throw the lower plungers n above'the top ofthe mold, to thereby interfere with other 'parts of the Y machine. Inthe construction heretofore employed, in which each plunger isindividually secured to its plunger-stem, the loosening of anyoneplunger fromA its stem would permit' such plunger to rise too far, withthe danger of wrecking the machine. By the new construction therefor thedanger of the lower plungers accidentally rising by accident too far ismaterially lessened.

Although the partp in this present machine is shown to be substantiallyaparallelepiped lower plungers; springs supporting said topv plate; and alower cross-head forming a seat for saidtop plate, said cross-headhaving a chamber therein open top and bottom wherein saidl springs aremounted, said springs being thereby accessible from the bottom of thecross-head. i

2. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination withthe molds and upper and lower plungers sliding therein, of a lowercross-head open top and bottom; a top plate seating thereon; means forraising said top plate independently of said cross-head and meansextending upward through said cross-head from a point beneath the samefor limiting the rise of said top plate from said cross-head.-

3. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination withthe molds and upper plungers of a lower cross-head, a top plate seatingthereon, lower plungers mounted upon said top plate, plunger-stemssecured to said top plate, springs supported` at oneextremity from saidcross-head and at the other extremity acting upon' said top plate toraise the same from its seat; and means for limiting the rise of saidtop plate from said cross-head.

4. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination withthe molds,

and upper and lower plungers sliding therein ;v

of a top plate carrying said lower plungers, a

lower cross-head consisting of parallel plates secured to end blocks,springs between said parallel plates acting upon saidtop plate to ICOyieldingly7 support the same on said crosshead, washers for supportingsaid springs,-

and pins removably mounted in said parallel plates of the cross-head forsupporting said washers.

5. .In a machine for compressing material into form, the combinationwith the molds, upper and lower plungers sliding therein, a,

cross-head and a top platefor supporting the lower plungers, of springssustaining the top plate yieldingly on the cross-head; a cross-A barsliding in vertical guideways below said `vcross-head; and stemsconnecting said top plate with the said cross-bar.

6. The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers slidingtherein, a top plate IIO for carrying the lower plungers, a cross-headfor supporting said top plate, sprin gs sustaining the lower plungeryieldingly on the crosshead, a cross-bar sliding in vertical guidewaysbelow the said cross-head, stems coninecting the said top plate with thesaid crossf bar, and a lever pivotally connected with said `cross-barand engaged with a fulcrum upon the machine-frame, said lever beingadapted for contact with a part of or upon the lower icross-head whichlimits the upward movement of the top plate and lower plungers.

7. The combination with a mold, lof upper.

and lower plungers sliding therein, plate 'carrying the lower plungermcrossheady for supporting the top plate, a spring or a. top

its equivalent sustainingthe top plate yieldy Y I ingly on the lowercross-head,a lever connected with the top plate and having a fulcrumupon the machine-frame, a rod connected to the lower cross-head andforked or slotted at its lower end, and a pin secured in said lever andadapted to engage the forked or slotted end of said guide-rod to limitthe upward movement of the top plate and lower plungers at the time offilling the mold.

8. The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers slidingtherein, a plate whereon the lower plungers are mounted, a cross-headfor supporting said plate, springs sustaining said plate yieldingly onthe lower cross-head,a cross-bar located below the lower plungers andhaving sliding connection with the machine frame, stems passing throughthe lower cross-head and connecting the said plate with the saidcross-bar, a lever` fulcrumed upon the machine-frame and pivotallyconnected with the said cross-bar, and a stop on the lower cross-headadapted for contact with the said lever to limit the upward movement ofthe said plate under the action of said springs.

9. The combinationwith a mold, of upper and lower plungers slidingtherein, a crosshead, a continuous plate whereon said lower plungers aremounted,springs sustaining said plate yieldingly on the lowercross-head, a lever connected with the said plate, a vertically-movablethreaded adjusting-rod, a pivot connecting said rod with said lever, arevolving sleeve threaded to engage said rod, a frame affording bearingsfor said sleeve and mounted upon pivotal supports or trunnions to affordfreedom of lateral movement in the lower end of said adjustin g-ro'd,substantially as described.

10. In a machine for compressing material into form; molds; upper andlower plungers sliding therein; and a lower cross-head cornprisingplates secured together at a slight distance apart; in combination witha top plate seating upon said parallel plates and supporting said lowerplungers; and means extending between said parallel plates foryieldingly supporting said top plate and tending to raise the same fromsaid parallel plates.

1l. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination ofmolds, upper and lower plungers sliding therein, a top plate carryingsaid lower plungers; springs supporting said top plate; and a built-uplower cross-head forming a seat for said top plate, said cross-headcomprising parallel plates secured together a sufficient distance apartto receive said springs between them, whereby access may be had to saidsprings from beneath the cross-head.

l2. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combinationwith the molds, upper and lower plungers sliding therein and a lowercross-head, of a top plate for sup porting said lower plungers; meansfor sustaining said top plate yieldingly on the crosshead and tending toraise said top plate therefrom; and means adjustable at a point outsideof said cross-head for controlling the height to which the top plate mayrise from said cross-head.

13. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combinationwith the molds, upper and lower plungers sliding therein and a lowercross-head, of a top plate for supporting said plungers; means forsustaining said top plate yieldingly on the cross-head and tending toraise said top plate therefrom and means adjustable at a stationarypoint for controlling the height to which the top plate may rise fromsaid cross-head.

' 14. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combinationof molds; upper and lower plungers sliding therein; a lower cross-headcomprising parallel plates secured together at their ends and having aspace between them; a top plate seating upon said parallel plates andcarrying the lower plungers; and said top plate coveringthe spacebetween said parallel plates to thereby prevent the access of clay orother foreign matter to the parts beneath; and means for yieldinglysupporting said top plate, said supporting means extending between saidparallel plates and tending to raise said top plate therefrom.

l5. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination ofmolds; upper and lower plungers sliding therein; a lower cross-head opentop and bottom; a top plate seating upon said parallel plates andcarrying the lower plungers; stems secured to said top plate forlimiting the rise thereof, said stems extending downward through andbeneath said cross-head; and springs for yieldingly supporting said topplate and tending to raise thel same from said parallel plates.

16. In a machine for compressing material into form, the combination ofmolds; upper and lower plungers sliding therein; a lower cross-headcomprising parallel plates secured together at their ends and having aspace between them; a top plate seating upon said parallel plates andcarrying the lower plungers; stems secured to said top plate forlimiting the rise thereof, said stems extending downward through saidcross-heads; springs for yieldingly supporting said top plate andtending to raise the same from said parallel plates, and means connectedto said stems below said cross-head foradj nsting the height to whichsaid top plate may rise from said cross-head.

HARRY J. FLOOD. Witnesses:

WM. G. MILLER, HOWARD M. COX.

ICO

